Learning Another Language: Help Conjugating Verbs

Conjugating verbs can be one of the most difficult challenges to the student of a new language. All you have to do is listen to a non-native speaker and you can see that getting the right form and tense takes a long time to get right. Are there techniques that can help you master verb conjugation?

An acquaintance of mine studied Spanish in high school. In Spanish, for example, conjugating a regular verb involves keeping the main part of the verb (the stem) and changing the ending of the word. The method she learned involved memorizing the endings in a singsong fashion. The teacher had them repeat the endings (for instance, with verbs ending in 'ar' it's o-as-a-amos-áis-an) over and over, until they could do it rapidly, without thinking. The problem was, when this young lady wanted to conjugate a verb, she needed to run through the list until she figured out which ending she wanted and then she could convert the verb. Eventually, she could get the form she wanted, but only after converting and translating in her head. Not very effective.

A better method involves actually using the verb and associating it in the context it will be used. This method is best used with a partner or group, and involves getting your whole body involved.

You stand facing the other person and choose a verb. For this example in Spanish, we'll stick with speaking - hablar. I'm also going to include the Spanish pronouns, just to demonstrate how they help cement the information in your mind. In the present tense, you would point to yourself, and then point to the ground (to signify 'right now') and say I speak - yo hablo. Next point to your partner and then to the ground and say you speak - tú hablas. Next, point off to the side (to signify another person, somewhere else, not present) and then the ground and say she speaks - ella habla. Then gesture with your hand to signify both you and your partner and then to the ground and say we speak - nosotros hablamos. Point to your partner and a group of other people (imaginary, if you are alone) and the ground and say you all speak - vosotros habláis. And finally, indicate a group of to the side somewhere and then the ground and say they speak - ellos hablan.

You can use this technique with virtually any verb - I walk, I eat, I drink, etc. - and it will help you firmly associate the conjugated form with the actual subject you are talking about.

You can also modify this exercise to learn different tenses. For example, if you want to indicate the present tense, I speak right now, point at the ground. If you want to indicate the past tense, I spoke, use your hand to point at yourself and then back over your shoulder, to indicate something behind you, in the past. If you want to indicate the future tense, point at yourself and then point in front of you, I will speak.

Once you master the tenses and voices, you can start to mix them up, all the while gesturing and pointing - I speak, you spoke, he will speak, we spoke, etc. By getting your whole body involved, speaking and listening and gesturing, you can help your brain to really process the information and recognize it as language, with a purpose, and not just rote memorization.